Yes. Exit polls and early projections on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, showed the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) finishing first in Saxony-Anhalt with about 44.4% of the vote — more than double its 2021 result and well ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU, which trailed near 18%.
Votes were still being counted, and it was unclear whether the AfD secured an absolute majority. The party has said it will not govern in a coalition, while mainstream parties maintain a “firewall” against working with it, leaving government formation uncertain.
Source: The Guardian — Far-right AfD wins key German state election but may fail to secure majority